How to pack a suitcase

Packing for a beach holiday

When you’re packing for a holiday of sun, sea and sand, things can get pretty stressful. No matter how hard you try, there’s always one more thing that just has to go in. But with our simple guide to the essential beach holiday packing list, you can make sure you have everything you need without breaking your luggage – or your back. 

1. Documents

   The first thing you should do when packing for a beach holiday is make a list. Not only will it focus the mind into thinking about what you actually need, but it will make sure nothing is forgotten and there’s no need for a last-minute dash to the airport shop.

   First on the list should be your essential documents. So your passport and a UK Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic), plus printouts of your flight tickets, holiday booking, hotel details, travel insurance and receipts for any extras you have booked such as excursions or a hire car. Take copies of everything in case they’re lost or stolen, and make sure that your passport has at least six months left before it expires.

2. Clothing

   Any beach packing list is likely to suggest plenty of clothes, but if you’re going somewhere sunny and warm, you won’t need quite as many as you think. Two different sets of swimwear is ideal as one can be drying while you wear the other, while a good pair of flip-flops or sliders is vital to stop your feet burning on the sand.

   Think about what you’ll be doing in the daytime and the evening, and pack accordingly. Throwing random pieces of clothing into your suitcase will only result in a pile of unused items and overloaded luggage. And remember, if there’s a choice between comfort and style, go for comfort. Your best heels aren’t great on the beach and will only give you blisters when walking around later on.

3. Accessories

   It goes without saying that you’ll need a great pair of UV-blocking sunglasses. Since sunglasses have a habit of getting lost in the sand or trodden on, take an extra pair to ensure you’re never without. Also pack a good sunhat, but if you prefer a larger style that might be crushed in your case, consider buying one when you get to your resort.

   When it comes to jewellery and watches, you may not want to take your most expensive items as you’ll spend most of your holiday worrying about them. Instead, take your everyday jewellery and watch, plus a couple of nice pieces for the evening.

4. Health

   By now, your beach holiday packing list will be getting long and space tight in your case, so think about which toiletries you want to take and how much you actually need. With big, bulky items like shampoo and conditioner, pour what you need into smaller containers and consider buying a travel-sized can of deodorant and tube of toothpaste. However, don’t skimp on the sun cream and after-sun. If you’re going somewhere hot, it’s likely you’ll need more than you think.

   You should also pack a first-aid kit, including plasters, painkillers, tweezers, indigestion tablets, antiseptic cream, cotton wool, bandages, antihistamines for insect bites, travel-sickness tablets, plus a few safety pins and a pair of scissors. And, if you take regular medication, make sure you have more than enough for the length of your holiday, as well as a copy of your prescription and a letter from your GP explaining why you need to take it.

5. Beach entertainment

   With any luck, you’ll be spending many hours soaking up the sun on the beach, so you’ll need a few things to entertain you. If you read plenty of books, download enough for your holiday onto an e-reader to save space and weight in your suitcase. If music, movies or box sets are more your thing, download them all before you leave as hotel Wi-Fi can be slow and expensive. Whatever gadgets you take, remember to take chargers for them all, as well as plug adaptors to ensure your batteries always stay full.

Packing for a cruise

If you have never been on a cruise before – or even if you have – tackling the question of what to take with you can be the most stressful part of your holiday. 

The diverse destinations, variations in weather, number of activities, and different dinner dress codes can play havoc with your normal packing routine. But with our essential cruise packing list, you’ll be strolling onboard secure in the knowledge that all the essentials you need are safely in your suitcase. 

Remember: buying any of these items while onboard can be expensive, so make a detailed list before you go and double-check that you’ve packed it all.

Packing essentials for a cruise:

• Tickets
• Passport
• Visa
• Medications
• Cards
• Travel insurance
• Foreign currency
• Camera
• Phones

As well as all the important and valuable items, your cruise packing list should include a change of clothes plus your toiletries in your carry-on bag. If there’s a delay while your suitcases are being delivered to your room, you can have dinner or start an activity straight away without having to wait in for them.

1. Daywear

   With a limited amount of luggage space and a limitless range of situations to dress for, deciding what clothes to put on your cruise checklist can be a daunting task.

   Sporting activities, on-shore excursions, poolside sunbathing, and a range of restaurants and events, can all weigh heavy on both the mind and the suitcase.

   Thankfully, most cruises will have a fairly relaxed attitude to clothing in the daytime – shorts, t-shirts, jeans, sundresses – and you should pack similar clothes to those you’d take on a beach holiday.

2. Dressing for dinner

   While dressing for the daytime is fairly simple, dressing for dinner can be a bit more tricky. Most cruises will have a dress code that can change according to restaurant and date, so check your cruise line for specific requirements.

   In general, your cruise packing list should include evening clothes you would feel comfortable wearing in a smart restaurant – suit and tie for men; dresses, skirts or trousers for women.

   Many cruises feature a ‘gala’ or ‘elegant’ night that encourages guests to dress up, which may mean tuxedos and evening gowns, but smart casual is usually fine.

3. Layer up

   The weather out at sea can vary dramatically, so put plenty of clothing you can layer – t-shirts, cardigans, sweatshirts, rain jackets, even fleeces, hats and gloves if you’re going to pass through somewhere cold on your journey – on your cruise packing list.

   It's best to look carefully at your ship’s itinerary and think about the various climates you will experience.

4. Extra storage

   Unless you’re staying in a luxurious suite with plenty of storage and shelf space, it’s likely you’ll run out of room fairly quickly. So if you want to keep small items such as toiletries, hairbrushes and medication handy, consider adding an over-the-door shoe bag to your cruise packing list.

   Many people also take extra hangers in case there’s not enough, as well as an empty bag to pack souvenirs or any clothes they buy on their trip.

5. Personal entertainment

   One of the joys of cruising is the amount of time you have to yourself, so make sure you put plenty of books and magazines on your cruise checklist.

   Your ship is likely to have a number of books to buy or borrow, but their selection may not be to your taste. If you’re more high tech and pack your e-reader, tablet or laptop then don’t forget the chargers.

6. First aid

   With all the food and drink on offer, it’s unlikely you’ll get through an entire cruise without needing an occasional painkiller or indigestion tablet, so put a small first aid kit on your cruise packing list.

   The kit should include a selection of the things you normally keep in your medicine cabinet at home. And if you don’t have your sea legs yet, make sure you pack some seasickness tablets too.

7. And finally…

   Onboard hairdryers can often be the low-power version, so pack your own hairdryer if you want a good blow dry. Small, secure backpacks are great for carrying personal items around port or on the ship.

   Clothes freshener can revitalise a worn suit or dress without having to dry clean it. Zip-lock bags are good for preventing wet swimwear from soaking other clothes, or for protecting travel documents or electronic items from the elements.

   And don’t forget to put your mobile phone in airplane mode to prevent any unwanted roaming charges.

You can also read our guide to packing for all kinds of holidays.